Plastic Surgeries Boom as Variants Surge
New York, NY, January 24, 2022 — The paradigm has shifted in the world of plastic surgery, with virtual consultations streamlining the process and tightening the timeline between concept and completion. But top New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Westreich cautions that consumers seeking cosmetic enhancements should never skimp on safety or due diligence.
“Your thought process and decision making about what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with should almost be more rigorous,” Dr. Westreich said in a recent interview.
The numbers of cosmetic procedures have hit new highs since 2020 thanks to the "Zoom Boom" and flexible work schedules. Experts fully expect the trend to continue throughout 2022.
Doctors say breast augmentation and Brazilian Butt Lifts are the top surgeries being performed; however, liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and facelifts are also on the rise. Less invasive procedures like Botox injections also are skyrocketing. Experts say the Botulinum Toxin market jumped from a -8.6 percent slump in 2020 to a 4.7 percent increase this year, and it’s still rising at an even faster pace.
Lower facial nonsurgical procedures and lip treatments will continue to rise, and noses will stay strong. Body procedures are booming now that people are going out again.
Dr. Westreich offers the following tips for those considering cosmetic procedures:
Tip 1: Make sure any doctor you schedule through a virtual visit allows you to cancel AFTER an in-person meeting for surgery. There is no substitute for face to face.
Tip 2: Results over name recognition. Your outcome will not be better than what they post online. That's considered their best work.
Tip 3: Don't rush. COVID-19 won't last forever, and you will have opportunities in the future that are different but workable. Make sure you're solid before moving on.
Dr. Westreich says it’s also very important that patients are vaccinated to stay healthy pre- and post-operation. “The average daily new COVID cases and deaths are increasing once again, and new variants are surfacing like Omicron. These mutations have proven to be more contagious and in many cases far more dangerous. This has caused a recent uptick in test positivity rates and virus-related hospitalizations for the first time in months. Despite these alarming statistics, many are still opting to have these elective medical procedures and must take all of the necessary precautions.”
More on Dr. Richard Westreich
Dr. Richard Westreich graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Biological Basis of Behavior, Neuroscience concentration in 1995 from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his medical school training at the New York University School of Medicine in 1999 with an M.D. and Honors in Cell Biology Research. Dr. Westreich then did his post-graduate training in Facial Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology at the prestigious Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
He has been selected multiple times by Castle Connolly and New York magazine as one of the top doctors in facial plastic surgery. He is an assistant professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and is on staff at Lenox Hill and Mount Sinai Hospitals. He is a faculty member and teacher at a fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai. His private practice is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he specializes in rhinoplasty, septoplasty, secondary and reconstructive rhinoplasty, facelifts, eyelid surgery and nonsurgical procedures.
He can be seen regularly on several national news programs, including ABC, CBS, FOX and Newsmax.
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